China airlines website

[benny27 3]

Saw a flight from my local airport in UK to Bkk via Amsterdam, booking for whole of the trip is on China Airlines own website. First leg is KLM. then China Airlines Amsterdam to BKK.

Looks a good deal for me, but has anyone used this China Airlines website to book? Is it reliable?

Can't see any of those ABTA/ATOL symbols like you can on e bookers, Thomas Cook, etc.

Thanks for any replies. I would be paying by debit card

[pattysteve 34]

Saw a flight from my local airport in UK to Bkk via Amsterdam, booking for whole of the trip is on China Airlines own website. First leg is KLM. then China Airlines Amsterdam to BKK.

Looks a good deal for me, but has anyone used this China Airlines website to book? Is it reliable?

Can't see any of those ABTA/ATOL symbols like you can on e bookers, Thomas Cook, etc.

Thanks for any replies. I would be paying by debit card

 

No i havent used China airlines to book,i have flown that route and its ok.

 

Im guessing you are worried about the current situation with airlines and travel agent going bust.There isnt a 1 in 1.3 billion China would ever let China Air go down the pan IMHO.So book away.

[Mescalito 19]

The CI web site is what I use to book my flights from SFO. The English language part of the site definitely wasn't designed by a native-English speaker, it's not always very intuitive, and some back-end redesign is needed, but it is reliable and secure and I have no problems with it. I also pay with my debit card, and feel perfectly safe doing so.

[Big_Brian 179]

ABTA/ATOL are associations for travel agents. By booking direct with the airline you're not using a travel agent, so they don't apply.

 

I don't know the website but have flown the route that you mention (a few years ago now), it's not 5* but acceptable. If the price and times work for you, go for it.

 

 

One thing though.

 

NEVER.

 

USE.

 

A.

 

DEBIT.

 

CARD.

 

ON.

 

THE.

 

INTERNET.

 

 

Credit cards give you some protection if something goes wrong, Debit cards don't. If someone manages to get hold of your card details, they can clean that account out and you're basically stuffed.

[darkmancomes 75]

Hi

I normally use Dial A Flight and squeeze a good deal out of them. I got to know a lad there and use him all the time and I normally get a good deal. Now to the point during my negotiating recently I mentioned to him that I could get a better deal with China Air his remark was you would not want to fly with that airline! I asked why and he said that as I had used the middle east airlines before I would notice a big difference in standards! Hope that helps. Eithad are quite reasonable at the moment but through a travel agent their web site these days dont seem to be making it.

[joekicker 53]

Im guessing you are worried about the current situation with airlines and travel agent going bust.There isnt a 1 in 1.3 billion China would ever let China Air go down the pan IMHO.So book away.

 

I agree that China Airlines is very solid and won't go broke, but I doubt China would care very much if China Airlines went broke. I think the odds are closer to 1 in 23 million, which is the population of Taiwan.

[benny27 3]

Thanks for all the replies, they are all very helpful.

Unfortunately I do not have a credit card, but have heard the following:

 

If you book on an ABTA/ATOL agent and the airline goes bust, you are covered by the agent's membership of these schemes

. If you book DIRECT to an airline and they go bust, you will lose your money if you pay by debit card. If you pay by credit card you have some protection.

 

So will probably book with the agent to get that ABTA 'cover.' Southall Travel look the cheapest at the moment.

 

Most travel insurance policies do not cover for the airline going bust.

 

Yes, you are correct in saying China Airlines is Taiwan based and nothing to do with mainland China. I went with them about 8 years ago and they were very good in fact. But I'm not bothered who gets me there, just the best price.

[joekicker 53]

I mentioned to him that I could get a better deal with China Air his remark was you would not want to fly with that airline! I asked why and he said that as I had used the middle east airlines before I would notice a big difference in standards!

 

Well, CI serves booze if that is what you mean. Your boy sounds quite the salesman. "Oy vey, have I got a deal for you!"

[jacko 8,815]

Why not book the same flight through Gazelle travel, as I did recently.

 

http://www.gazelletravel.co.uk/

 

Cheque in the post works for them, easy to deal with.!

 

China airlines is a good option, I like NOT having to go to the Middle East. The early morning arrival is great if you want to travel on to Pattaya directly. Not so great if you are staying in Bangkok as likely you will get to the hotel too early to get in your room. I don't like hanging around a lobby with my suitcase for a few hours Plus they have had their accident lately so will be extra careful!

Edited September 21, 2008 by jacko

[BBB 3]

Flown China many times but never used the website as they never booked Newcastle - Bangkok return always Amsterdam - Bangkok then a separate flight with KLM so it was always cheaper booking with a travel agent, first time i've noticed the change but they still won't let me book Bangkok - Newcastle return.

 

Jacko i usually book with Gazelle they are very good.

[whilliam_mancon 2]

A small note of warning, I used to fly with China Airlines quite a lot a couple of years back, and they were always over booked on every flight.

 

This was really never a problem for me since I had a business class ticket through my job at the time, but it was hell on earth for the people with regular tourist class tickets.

 

I have no idea if this is still the case, but my advise is that you be sure to have a paper confirmation and to check it out at least once with China Airlines before you fly out and to get an extra fax/mail confirmation on your booking, with the name of the person you were in contact with just to be sure.

 

 

Good luck and have a great trip!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Mescalito 19]

A small note of warning, I used to fly with China Airlines quite a lot a couple of years back, and they were always over booked on every flight.

 

This was really never a problem for me since I had a business class ticket through my job at the time, but it was hell on earth for the people with regular tourist class tickets.

 

I have no idea if this is still the case, but my advise is that you be sure to have a paper confirmation and to check it out at least once with China Airlines before you fly out and to get an extra fax/mail confirmation on your booking, with the name of the person you were in contact with just to be sure.

Good luck and have a great trip!

 

 

I don't know of this was the case back then, Wm., but now CI's web site allows you to select your seat on-line within 90 days of your departure. That gets around any overbooking problems. And while I can only speak for SFO-BKK-SFO trips, the impact of rising fuel costs on ticket prices seems to be having an effect. On my trip in May this year biz class where I was was barely half full and coach about 2/3.

[Samsonite 181]

I've always used their web site and never had a problem. Be sure

to print out your "e-ticket" and/or receipt and presented it to the clerk at the check-in counter. Also be sure to have with you the credit or atm/debit card you used to buy the ticket.

 

BTW, China Air is the national airline of Taiwan not to be confused with Air China from the mainland.

[slick 0]

The CI web site is what I use to book my flights from SFO. The English language part of the site definitely wasn't designed by a native-English speaker, it's not always very intuitive, and some back-end redesign is needed, but it is reliable and secure and I have no problems with it. I also pay with my debit card, and feel perfectly safe doing so.

 

 

Yes, they should redesign their website. Some of the English phrases they use are quite odd.

 

I was going to book my multi-leg flights on their site but it doesn't offer that option, only round trip flights. So I ended up booking it thru a travel agent instead. For Asian airlines, I think Cathay and Singapore websites are good.

[whilliam_mancon 2]

As I said, It was some time since I flew with them Mescalito, but I believe you and if so they are certainly well worth flying with, sounds great!

 

Thanks for the update Mescalito, I appreciate it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whilliam

[CheshireTom 1,377]

Thanks for all the replies, they are all very helpful.

Unfortunately I do not have a credit card, but have heard the following:

 

If you book on an ABTA/ATOL agent and the airline goes bust, you are covered by the agent's membership of these schemes

. If you book DIRECT to an airline and they go bust, you will lose your money if you pay by debit card. If you pay by credit card you have some protection.

 

So will probably book with the agent to get that ABTA 'cover.' Southall Travel look the cheapest at the moment.

 

Most travel insurance policies do not cover for the airline going bust.

 

Yes, you are correct in saying China Airlines is Taiwan based and nothing to do with mainland China. I went with them about 8 years ago and they were very good in fact. But I'm not bothered who gets me there, just the best price.

 

You are covered by neither ATOL nor ABTA if the agent issues the ticket (including e-tickets) within 24 hours of the booking. You need to take out additional airline failure insurance.

[donny-darko 1]

I always travel China business from Norwich via Amsterdam and think the airline is very good for the price, in fact can fly their First class for the price almost of other airlines business class. I always use Airline network to book. Would not use the website for the reasons others have said, ie no Atol protection.

[Feileacan 32]

Some friends travelled last month with China air. Got a good deal and were happy with the flight, they flew midweek and had 3 seaters each, going over and back. They booked on site below and had no probs, might like to try for comparisson

 

http://www.letsgotravel.ie/flight_search.html

[jacko 8,815]

I just flew with China Airlines in Biz class, booked it through Gazelle travel. Manchester on KLM to Amsterdam.....

It was a good flight, punctual and very nice Thai stewardesses. Sadly a couple of very drunk English yobs in front of me were making the girl's life hell. They weren't enhancing the flying experience for the other passengers around them either.